PHOTO: Kim McDougall, author of the Valkyrie Bestiary series, photographed by Genevieve Chatel at her farm in Quebec.
Weaving Fantasy, Animals, And Community Into Literary Wonders
Kim McDougall discusses her passion for writing fantastical worlds, her connection to animal rescue, and blending genres while creating captivating characters and immersive narratives that transcend traditional fantasy storytelling.
Kim McDougall’s tales invite us to step beyond the threshold of the everyday and into realms where magic pulses beneath the surface of life’s quiet moments. Her work possesses not only the allure of the fantastical—whether in the shadowed alleys of urban fantasy, the lush landscapes of epic adventures, or the comforting peculiarities of cosy storytelling—but also an emotional depth rooted in raw, human experience. At the heart of Kim’s narratives lie profound themes of compassion, resilience, and the transformative connections we share with each other, with the land, and with the animals who walk beside us.
As a writer, Kim reshapes traditional boundaries with elegant defiance. Her steampunk world in A Knack for Metal and Bone melds the nostalgia of bygone eras with progressive ideals, creating a universe where the clanging rhythm of mechanical wonders is tempered by an uncompromising vision of equality. Likewise, her multi-layered characters wrestle with desires and contradictions that feel profoundly authentic—threads of vulnerability and strength woven through each protagonist’s journey, whether they wield swords or quiet courage.
Yet it is perhaps Kim’s intimate connection with nature and rural life that most vividly anchors her imaginative landscapes. Mullarkey Mills in Black Annis Year, with its quirks and camaraderie, mirrors Kim’s real-world sensibilities, reminding us of the magic lying in simple community and shared purpose. Through her balance of intricate world-building and emotional nuance, Kim McDougall crafts universes that beckon readers to linger long after the final page is turned—a testament to the enduring power of storytelling that feels both enchanted and achingly familiar.
In Black Annis Year, how did your real-life experiences with animal rescue shape the story’s emotional core?
All of the animals in Black Annis Year are based on creatures I have loved, either through working with volunteer groups or my own adoptions. The emotional impact that animals have on our lives is a theme I often explore in my books, but Black Annis Year is different. This is the story I’ve wanted to write for over ten years, since I sat on a muddy hill in the rain, singing to an incredible horse who had fallen and couldn’t get up. Sadie from Black Annis Year is that horse. And her journey in the book parallels closely with the real life inspiration. It took me a long time to find the right story to weave around Sadie, but I think that Elenna’s journey from grief to quiet joy is the perfect accompaniment.
What inspired the blend of steampunk and epic fantasy elements in A Knack for Metal and Bone?
A Knack for Metal and Bone is set some 700 years into our future. After a magic apocalypse, the world went into a dark age. It is slowly bouncing back and the society of New Torwood City has evolved to a steampunk age with mechs (simple mechanical robots, clocks, lamps and any other household gadget) now fueled by thera, a magical mineral.
I chose this setting carefully. I wanted the fun of a pre-industrialized age with steampunk elements, but a modern tone. I didn’t want women stuck in the home and flouncing around in gowns with breath-stealing stays. I wanted a world where equality—whether that be equality of gender, race, or sexual orientation—was an unquestioned given right, but one where you could still sip ale in a tavern. I’d say it was my version of utopia, but, of course, a few bad eggs have to ruin it for everyone otherwise there would be no conflict and no story.
After completing the Valkyrie Bestiary series, what motivated you to explore new worlds in your recent works?
Finding new ideas is never going to be my problem. For over twenty years, I’ve been keeping a Scrivener file I call “Writing Sparks.” All ideas go in there. They might be the wonky dream that woke me in the night with a full outline for a new novel, or just a snippet of a conversation I overheard at the cafe. Or a funny meme that inspires a character. By now it’s a really fat file. I have at least three more ideas for complete series in there. When I was about two-thirds of the way through writing the Valkyrie Bestiary, I was already trying on some of those new series for size. And by the time I finished VB, I had a solid outline for the first Knack book, as well as some rough thoughts for The Fair Folk of Mullarkey Series. I think this is how I will always work. I’m nowhere near the end of these new series, but I’m already looking ahead to my next one. Looking forward like this lets the ideas percolate until I’m ready to write them.
How does the fictional town of Mullarkey Mills reflect aspects of your own community in rural Quebec?
Many aspects of Black Annis Year come from my experience living in a rural community, such as the many seasonal markets, the community rallying around to support special causes, even the quirky characters like the General who waves to every car he sees on his daily walks. I wanted all that for Mullarkey Mills. I chose to create a fictional village rather than set it in a real town simply so I could take the best aspects of many towns and put them together. Mullarkey Mills is a collage of villages in Quebec, but I wish it was real.
Can you discuss the challenges of writing from the perspectives of characters like Rowan and Conall in The Knack Series?
My first drafts tend to be very spare on emotional detail, but during my revisions I try to really dig into the perspective of each character, especially for inner thoughts and dialogue. Would Conall really use that many words? No. He doles out words like he needs to ration them. Is Rowan really that nice? No. She has a bit of a dark side and it’s important to me that she doesn’t come across as too much of a princess. Keeping these distinctions in mind helps to make each character unique. It also helps to have a great editor who isn’t shy about saying, “Hey, this character is bland. Who is she?”
What role does folklore play in developing the magical elements across your different series?
I mostly read eBooks, but I always have a stack of nonfiction paperbacks beside my bed—books on myths, fairies, robots, aliens, forest lore, and anything else that sparks my fancy. I rarely read them from cover to cover, but sample chapters here and there as the mood strikes me. Their knowledge seeps into my writing like a slow drip.
How do you balance writing multiple series simultaneously without compromising their unique voices?
I think it is the uniqueness of the voices that helps me to balance them. That and the very different settings. I have to admit though, I had to tone down my penchant for writing action-packed fight scenes when it came to Black Annis Year. I kept reminding myself that it was cozy fantasy with low-stakes and Elenna wasn’t Kyra. She didn’t have a big sword or a history of violence. She had to solve her fairy problems a different way.
What key advice would you offer to aspiring authors aiming to craft compelling fantasy narratives?
World building is my happy place, but it’s also a lot of work. I spent years building the world of New Torwood City before actually starting to write A Knack for Metal and Bone. My key advice is to create a story bible for every series, even if that series is set in a contemporary world. Draw maps, even if you can’t draw. They help to anchor you in your new world. Make mood boards (Pinterest is great for this), playlists and timelines. Keep lists of minor characters, places and details to refer back to in later books. Add to this bible every time you write or edit a chapter. When you get stuck, reading over your story bible can provide much inspiration.
